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This is Harriet Tyce’s debut novel and what a thriller.  ‘Blood Orange’ centres around Alison who is a successful criminal barrister. She is married to Carl with a beautiful daughter, Matilda.  Carl looks after the home, child care and general takes care of everything.

Alison has just been given her first murder case, by Patrick, who she is having an affair with.  She is trying to stop the affair and wants to put a halt to some self-destructive behaviours.  The murder case consumes her as she is trying to take her career to the next level and wants to prove her client innocent.

The writing is brilliant and the character of Alison, whilst annoying, was excellently portrayed and managed to illicit just the right amount of empathy.

This is a legal/psychological thriller with twists, turns and tense situations showing how easy it is for somebody to get misled and end up in positions which they never intended.

There were some uncomfortable matters addressed throughout and I thoroughly enjoyed the read.  I cannot wait for the TV series.

Highly recommended.

 

 

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And it still keeps getting better

This is the sixteenth Roy Grace novel (all of which I have read) and I find myself saying it is the best yet (again). There are so many aspects to these novels but I love the fact that the author, Peter James, is always bang up-to-date with current situations as well as being well-researched.

Mickey Starr (or Lucky as some people know him) has a brother with downs syndrome who he idolises and has pledged to look after.  However, the novel opens with Mickey trying to bring a large quantity of class A drugs into the country hidden in a fake, top of the range, Ferrari.  He gets caught and his ultimate boss is then found and the two go on trial.

Mickey pleads guilty in the hope of a shorter sentence so he can get out to his brother whilst the boss denies all knowledge of Mickey and the drugs.

In the meantime, Meg Magellan is taking a redundancy package as she sees her daughter, Laura, going on a round-the-world trip with her best friend.  Meg has a sad past with family bereavements and during Laura’s trip is required to do jury service.

As the jury arrive there is somebody at the front of the public gallery filming the jurors with a view to trying to persuade them to return a ‘not-guilty’ verdict.

This is easily a stand-alone novel, although my enjoyment is enhanced by the fact that I know the background to some of the characters and wait for their next moves.

The ending was great. ‘I’m writing because I have something of interest about our mutual friend. No names mentioned because all these letters are read, but I know you were interested in doing something with that park bench.’

I cannot wait for the next instalment.

Thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmiilan and Peter James for my ARC of Find Them Dead in return for my honest review.

Utterly brilliant read.  Highly recommended.

 

 

 

 

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I have read this author before and this was another classy read. “Finders, Keepers’ is full of suspense, twists and turns with brilliant characters and a clever plot.

Alisa and Tom Tilson move to Trinity Fields with a view to making a fresh start and need to renovate their new home.  Their neighbour, Verity whose eyes the story is told through, has many layers to her character and has lived in Trinity Fields all of her life.

There are secrets in both houses and a conflict immediately between the new neighbours and somebody who doesn’t want to change.

Absolutely loved the ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Sabine Durrant for my ARC in return for my honest review.

 

Excellent read and highly recommended.

 

 

 

 

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‘Shed No Tears’ sees the return of the inimitable DC Cat Kinsella for the third in the series.  Even though it is one of a series it could easily be read as a stand alone for those who haven’t read the previous books.  Having said that, I am getting to know the characters and am finding this adds to my enjoyment. This is yet another excellent read.

The remains of a young woman, Holly Kemp, are found in a field in Cambridgeshire, covered by twigs and logs.  The body has been there for some years and it is identified as the fourth victim of a serial killer who is in prison for the murder of the other three women.  He was not convicted of this murder as the body hadn’t been found and there was no definitive proof.

There are several inconsistencies with the other three murders so an investigation begins to ensure that it is the killer of Holly Kemp who is behind bars.

Serious questions around the evidence, witness statement and police methods are raised and Cat soon believes all is not as it seems.  Following the plot with all the twists and turns of the storyline the reader is taken into a deep, dark and dangerous place where gangsters (something Cat knows about first hand) and police are working hand in hand.

Cat is one of my favourite fictional detective characters. She has inner demons and a sense of humour which keeps her going.  Sometimes she opens her mouth when she shouldn’t and I am now wondering what the next instalment will bring.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bonnier Books UK and Caz Frear for my ARC of ‘Shed No Tears’ in return for my honest review.

Another must read for any fan of crime thrillers.  Highly recommended.

 

 

 

 

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This is the first novel I have read of Lesley Pearse and will be looking out for others as it was quite a read.

Amelia works for a local newspaper selling advertising space. Her background is poor from an abusive family with an alcoholic mother and father quite willing to punch his way in and out of trouble.

Her aspiration is to become a reporter and maybe write a book when one day she comes across the body of a young woman.  Convincing her employer to allow her to investigate she soon finds more bodies.

Cleverly plotted as Amelia becomes involved the twists and turns keep coming.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin UK, Michael Joseph and Lesley Pearse for my ARC of ‘Liar’ in return for my honest review.

Great read and highly recommended.